Everything Mohamed Salah has said about Liverpool future as Saudi interest remains

Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool has been in doubt ever since he criticized both the club and manager Arne Slot following the 3-3 draw against Leeds at Elland Road

Mohamed Salah could leave Liverpool in 2026(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah's situation at Liverpool dominated the Premier League news agenda earlier this month, but just as quickly as the storm started with the Egyptian's comments at Elland Road, it died down when he was included in the squad to face Brighton.

However, although Salah and Arne Slot seem to have smoothed things over, the reality is that the can may just have been kicked down the road.

All great players have egos, and if Salah continues to be frequently used as a substitute upon his return from the Africa Cup of Nations next month, it would not be a surprise were he to kick up a stink again.

Salah does not often speak publicly about his future, unless he wants to put a message out there – just ask Jamie Carragher – but he has spoken a couple on multiple occasions this year.

Of course, when he signed a contract renewal in April to tie him to Liverpool until 2027, Salah spoke excitedly about the prospect of playing for Liverpool for a full decade. "We have a great team now," he said.

"Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career.

Salah is currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations(Image: AFP or licensors)

"If I don’t believe that I would have not signed. I believe the team can win trophies. With the support of the fans and the city, and the support they always give us in the games, I believe we can win many trophies in the next years."

In the same interview, Slot spoke warmly about his relationship with Arne Slot: "Him and I, I think we have a good relationship. We understand each other on and off the field, which is very important. We have good communication, we discuss almost everything he wants me to improve, and he wants from me. And also if I feel there’s something in doubt, I go and speak to him. That’s a great asset to have also as a manager."

Eight months on, Salah was not speaking quite so positively about his relationship with Slot or his future prospects at Anfield.

After being benched for a third successive Premier League game, having previously started every league game since Slot arrived, Salah said: “Now I'm sitting on the bench, and I don't know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus.

"That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I got a lot of promises in the summer, and so far I am on the bench for three games so I can't say they keep the promise.

“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden, we don't have any relationship. I don't know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club.

“This club, I always support it. My kids will always support it. I love the club so much, I will always do. I called my mum yesterday - you guys didn't know if I would start or not, but I knew.

“Yesterday I said to them, come to the Brighton game. I don't know if I am going to play or not, but I am going to enjoy it. In my heads, I'm going to enjoy that game because I don't know what is going to happen now.

“I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa Cup. I don't know what is going to happen when I am there.”

As it turned out, Salah was at Anfield to say goodbye to the fans against Brighton – but there was no sense that it was a final goodbye after he delivered one of his best performances of a difficult season.

After that game, Salah was asked by reporters if he would stop to answer questions in the mixed zone, but he unsurprisingly declined. Clearly recognizing the impact of his comments the previous weekend, Salah laughed as he said: "Oh God! Two weeks in a row? No."

With Salah now at Afcon, all Liverpool's fans can do is wait for him to return before finding out what his future holds.